UNLV guard Eli Parquet returns to practice from knee injury

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 | 2 a.m.

The UNLV basketball team is close to getting back a key component of its rotation, as senior guard Eli Parquet returned to practice on Thursday.

Parquet started the first 10 games of the season before suffering a knee injury on Dec. 10 in a win over Washington State. He has not played since, and the Scarlet and Gray have missed him on the defensive end.

Head coach Kevin Kruger said Parquet is still getting up to speed, but that he could possibly suit up as early as Saturday when UNLV travels to Fresno State.

“Still day to day, seeing where he’s at, getting certain reps, getting certain time off,” Kruger said of Parquet’s status. “He’s got to get comfortable with the daily aspect of it and catch up with some of the stuff he has missed over the last six weeks.”

Parquet transferred to UNLV from Colorado, where he was a member of the Pac 12 All-Defense team. At 6-foot-4, he brings length and lateral explosiveness to UNLV’s perimeter defense. He is averaging 5.1 points and 2.8 rebounds this season, and he ranks second on the team in defensive box plus/minus, trailing only senior forward Luis Rodriguez.

Parquet appeared to be a full participant in Thursday’s two-hour session, and Kruger liked what he saw.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet,” Kruger said, “but I thought just watching him in terms of the flow of practice I thought he looked pretty good.”

UNLV opened the season by winning its first 10 games, and Parquet was a starter for each of those contests. Since he went down, the Scarlet and Gray have gone 2-6.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.